Bronzeville fire destroys businesses

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Several businesses were damaged by a two-alarm fire in the 100-block of East 47th Street in the Bronzeville neighborhood. No one was injured.

The fire broke out around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and the roof collapsed a couple of hours later. Hot spots continued to flare overnight before being struck Wednesday morning.

The fire destroyed two buildings that housed four storefronts: a nail salon, a pharmacy and a dollar store and furniture store that shared space.

"I think it started upstairs. That's where it looks like the smoke started, upstairs," Michael Jones, who worked at one of the businesses, said. "Thank God nobody was in there. Everything is gone. Everything is gone."

Chicago fire officials have not released the cause.

More than 200 ComEd customers, including The Abundance Bakery, lost power as a result of the fire, but it was restored Wednesday morning.

"Right after 12 a.m., we lost the lights. Temporarily, we had to shut the gas because of the precautions. About 4:30 a.m. we got lights and gas," Dagene Brown, whose uncle owns The Abundance Bakery, said.